Oilers Close Gap with 4-3 Overtime Win in Carolina

RALEIGH, N.C. -- While making history, Fernando Pisani broke a lot of hearts in North Carolina on Wednesday night, scoring on a shorthanded breakaway at 3:31 of overtime to give the Edmonton Oilers a 4-3 victory against the Carolina Hurricanes in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Final to close the series to 3-2 in Carolina's favor.

Pisani's breakaway goal was the first overtime, shorthanded goal in Stanley Cup Final history. It also was the first overtime, shorthanded goal that prevented a team from being eliminated.

Game 6 will be played Saturday night (8 p.m. ET, NBC, CBC, RDS, NHL Radio) at Rexall Place in Edmonton.

Moments after Michael Peca rang a shot off the post, the Oilers appeared to be in deep trouble as defenseman Steve Staios was called for tripping at 3:03, to give the Hurricanes, who had three power-play goals in the game, a golden chance to win both the game and the Stanley Cup.

But Cory Stillman's attempted cross-ice, breakout pass was weak and didn't reach Eric Staal, allowing Pisani unfettered access to goalie Cam Ward, beating him for the winning goal and ruining what thousands of "Caniacs" had hoped would be a memorable Stanley Cup celebration.

"That was probably the biggest goal I've scored in my career," Pisani said. "It was great, especially with our backs against the wall, to score that goal was huge.